The GOP has unequivocally condemned the increase in antisemitic attacks taking place in cities across the country and have called out inappropriate rhetoric in their own party. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the Democrat Party which has allowed anti-Israel rhetoric to proliferate within its ranks despite its connection to the increase in violence. The rise in antisemitic attacks comes in the broader context of generally higher violent crime rates in cities that have voted to reduce funding for law enforcement over the last year.
These Anti-Semitic attacks must be condemned.
— GOP (@GOP) May 24, 2021
The scenes that have unfolded in the United States are horrifying. This is not what this country stands for and every American must speak out against these attacks.
Prominent members of the Democrat Party have doubled down on their anti-Israel rhetoric despite the increase in Jewish people across the country being violently targeted. This has come without public condemnation from party leadership.
It's so INTERESTING that her anti-Israel tweets that incite antisemitism come from @AOC (more than 12 million followers), while her tweets telling people not to be antisemitic come from @RepAOC (with less than 700k followers). https://t.co/WL8zLiZASL
— Seffi Kogen (@seffikogen) May 21, 2021
It’s like their WhatsApp group messages read - “yeah the attacks on Jews is sorta crazy but we can’t admit that b/c everyone will say we’re fanning the flames with our posts about Israel so let’s throw in some fake islamaphobia claims” pic.twitter.com/4WA0641rvl
— StopAntisemitism.org (@StopAntisemites) May 23, 2021
.@BernieSanders' claims are an example of dangerous anti-Israel rhetoric that is inflaming tensions nationwide.@SenateDems with a conscious need to stand up and denounce Sanders’ remarks.https://t.co/e6D9tNCV89
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) May 25, 2021
As Seffi Kogen, the Global Director of Young Leadership at the American Jewish Committee, wrote for Newsweek, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is one of the worst offenders:
While anti-Zionist gangs beat up Jews in her city, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was providing a quasi-intellectual basis for their actions, defaming Israel as an apartheid state employing indiscriminate force in what she seems to think is a capricious quest to murder as many Palestinian children as possible, instead of a highly restrained military operation tightly targeted on terrorists.
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez didn't call for violence, but she carved out an area of respectability for a certain type of anti-Semitism, and others were only too happy to rush in, fists flying.
It turns out, if you ignore all evidence, turn Israel into the villain in your morality play, and insist that Americans have a "responsibility" to do something about Israel, the thing that they will do is beat up American Jews, throw rocks through the windows of American synagogues, and harass Jews who try to speak up on social media.
It is important to note that the term, "anti-Zionism," can be used as a cover for antisemitism, but many "anti-Zionists" aren't even trying to hide their true motives anymore. (The Anti-Defamation League defines anti-Zionism as, "prejudice against the Jewish movement for self-determination and the right of the Jewish people to a homeland in the State of Israel.")
"Free Palestine - Kill All The Jews".
— StopAntisemitism.org (@StopAntisemites) May 24, 2021
They're not even bothering to say Zionists anymore. https://t.co/tc2v7wJJpT
The Democrat Party will continue to blame the inflammatory rhetoric on elected officials going rogue, but the Democrat machine is anti-Israel to its core. Just look at who they hire:
This isn't a few rogue members of the party. Democrats are hiring Israel-haters to staff their legislative and executive branch offices. Democrats are telling us a lot by who they hire. In this case they hired 500+ members of the blame Israel caucus. https://t.co/zjotznaNUj
— RJC (@RJC) May 24, 2021
Bernie 2016 Surrogate: pic.twitter.com/pLzn7uwRG8
— iron dome stan account (@dy1anonymous) May 24, 2021
Both @SenMikeLee & @JohnCornyn pointed out that @KristenClarkeJD has failed to apologize for her past racist, anti-Semitic, and anti-police past statements and actions. She has instead "evaded responsibility." We ask why is it hard to say "I was wrong to support Anti-Semites?"
— RNLA ⚖️ (@TheRepLawyer) May 13, 2021
Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Tom Cotton have announced that they will introduce legislation that would give law enforcement and the justice system more resources to fight antisemitism. Leader McConnell explained:
“This trash should be the easiest thing in the world for every person in a leadership position to call out.
“But, perhaps because Israel has become a strangely controversial issue on the far left, the condemnations do not seem to be flowing quite as easily and unequivocally as they should.
“Yesterday a Democratic Congressman from Minnesota tweeted this: ‘I’ll say the quiet part out loud. It’s time for “progressives” to start condemning anti-Semitism and violent attacks on Jewish people with the same intention and vigor demonstrated in other areas of activism. The silence has been deafening.’ I couldn’t say it better myself.
“Senator Cotton and I are introducing new legislation to fight anti-Semitism. Our bill will support state and local law enforcement and ensure the bigoted thugs who are attacking Jewish Americans face the full force of our justice system.
.@SenTomCotton and I have new legislation to fight anti-Semitism and ensure the bigoted thugs attacking Jewish Americans face the full force of our justice system. It’s sad our bill is urgently necessary today, in 2021, but I am proud to stand with the Jewish community.
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) May 25, 2021
Additionally, Senator Josh Hawley and several other Republicans are urging the Senate to adopt a resolution condemning the recent attacks:
“The sickening rise in anti-Semitic attacks in the United States and around the world must end, along with the hateful anti-Israel rhetoric from politicians and the media that inspires the violence.We must ensure that Jewish people receive the full protection of law owed to them as citizens of the United States."
Senator Josh Hawley
“At a moment when Jews are literally under attack in the streets of our nation, Jewish Americans need to know that Congress is on their side. This resolution provides an opportunity for our elected leaders to take a stand against antisemitism and against the demonization of Israel that fuels it,” said Matt Brooks, Executive Director of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
NEW — Senator Hawley introduced a resolution condemning a rising trend of hatred and violence against Jews, denouncing anti-Israel rhetoric from elected officials and the media, and reaffirming that Jews must be treated with dignity and respect. https://t.co/JSlq9P4483 pic.twitter.com/hMZFNXVqQw
— Senator Hawley Press Office (@SenHawleyPress) May 25, 2021
The RNLA strongly condemns the antisemitic attacks against Jewish Americans which have no place in a society that values the freedom to exercise religion without fear of persecution, the rule of law, and the equality and value of all people.